You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried
The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation
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4.2 • 41 Ratings
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
A deep dive into the Brat Pack, John Hughes, and the timeless movies they made together—“a must-have for fans of ’80s teen flicks” (Associated Press)
“As readable as it is informative, Susannah Gora’s book sets these influential films into a cultural and cinematic context—and provides compelling behind-the-scenes stories about the people who made them.”—Leonard Maltin
From Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and St. Elmo’s Fire to Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Say Anything, the films of the Brat Pack have influenced an entire generation who still want to believe life always turns out like an eighties movie.
You Couldn’t Ignore Me If You Tried takes us back to that golden age of youth cinema, telling for the first time the complete story behind how these films were made. Through original and revealing interviews with scores of key players like Molly Ringwald, Matthew Broderick, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Andrew McCarthy, Rob Lowe, John Cusack, Cameron Crowe, and Ally Sheedy, author Susannah Gora has crafted a sweeping tribute to a body of films that stirred an entire generation and a gripping account of the people who brought these films to life.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The phrase was coined by David Blum in the headline Hollywood s Brat Pack, heralding his cover story for the June 10, 1985, issue of New York magazine with its cover photo of Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, and Judd Nelson. The label stuck, Gora notes, and extended to describe other actors: Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Molly Ringwald, and Anthony Michael Hall. A former editor at Premiere, Gora guides the reader through the creation of the teen cinema of the 1980s, described by the American Film Institute as the cultural phenomenon which helped make us what we are today. To recall the era, she interviewed two dozen actors, plus the directors and producers behind the Brat Pack s memorable movies, including The Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo s Fire and Ferris Bueller s Day Off. As Gora sees it, The films changed the way many young people looked at everything from class distinction to friendship, from love and sex to fashion and music. Writer-director John Hughes s ability to capture adolescent angst is highlighted. The 1980s youth films maintain their popularity on TV and DVDs, and Gora gives them near-encyclopedic, comprehensive coverage.
Customer Reviews
Too Expensive!
If it were cheaper I would definitely buy it, like maybe 4.99. But 11.99? I could buy an album for that price!
Really captures the essence of John Hughes
I grew up in Northbrook, Illinois (aka Shermerville) and have always kept my memories around the set of Ferris, Home Alone and Sixteen Candles near and dear to my heart. I was quite pleased with the book on all levels as it brought me back to my HS years. Susannah Gora truly captured the essence of the influence of John Hughes' films in the 80's and 90's. I can't recall the last time I read a book that kept me intrigued and interested page after page to the point I couldn't put my iPad down.
John Hughes is an icon that will not doubt be missed and this book is a wonderful testament to his outstanding achievements in both cinema and society overall. Well done.
Memory Lane never felt so good
This is a wonderful book, full of my memories but written by someone else. Because those of us that grew up with these films all have these same memories and wouldn’t trade them for the world.